Depth Charts

Nicklas Backstrom scored the game-winning goal in overtime Friday against Philipp Grubauer and the Colorado Avalanche while adding an assist in his 20:59 of ice time.

Backstrom admitted to having a difficult time scoring on Grubauer when the two were teammates, but he didn't have trouble in this one. "I used to struggle scoring on him in practice against Grubauer," Backstrom said. "He was probably used to me passing, too. Tom (Wilson) gave me a good pass and I was able to get the shot off." It was Backstrom's sixth multi-point showing of the season, giving him five goals and 22 points with a plus-5 rating through 19 outings.

Evgeny Kuznetsov (upper body) will not play Monday and seems unlikely to play Wednesday.

Kuznetsov, who is suspected to be dealing with a concussion, didn't skate on Monday morning and hasn't been back on the ice yet. Washington will be off on Tuesday, so a return on Wednesday doesn't seem likely either. He is considered to be day-to-day.

Lars Eller skated on the top line with Alex Ovechkin and Tom Wilson on Friday night.

Eller got the promotion because of an upper-body injury to Evgeny Kuznetsov. He didn't earn a point in Washington's 3-2 OT win over Colorado, but he did have three shots and one hit in 20:48 of ice time.

Alex Ovechkin picked up a goal with a plus-1 rating, a game-high seven shots and two hits over 23:55 of ice time in Friday's 3-2 overtime win at Colorado.

Ovie snapped a season-high four-game streak without a goal since he last lit the lamp Nov. 7 against the Penguins. It's hard to believe, but he has a minus-2 rating through 19 games, but fantasy owners can't complain too vehemently since he also has notched 13 goals with 21 points. In addition, he dished out two more hits to give him 55 so far. He'll look to keep it cooking on Monday night in Montreal.

Jakub Vrana scored a goal in Wednesday's 3-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets.

Vrana opened the scoring at the 13:00 mark of the first period, when he beat Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck with a perfect wrist-shot from the slot. He finished the game with a plus-1 rating, two shots on goal and one hit in 18:31 of ice time. The 22-year-old now has five goals and nine points in 18 games this season. Madison Bowey and Dmitry Orlov registered the assists on the Capitals' only goal.

Oshie was not on the ice for the morning skate. Washington is off Tuesday and he has skated since he was slammed to the ice on Friday. It doesn't seem likely that Oshie will be ready to play Wednesday. He is listed as day-to-day.

Tom Wilson has been forced to play a different game since returning from a 14-game suspension last week.

Wilson has been suspended four times since the start of training camp in 2017. "There are definitely hits already that you kind of see," Wilson said. "I’ve never been a guy that’s going out there and flying elbows, sticking legs out or spearing guys. I’ve been trying to make hard, good, clean body checks. The game is so fast now and guys are moving all over the place when there are big collisions … sometimes there are injuries. I just have to make sure I’m staying away from those and helping the team offensively, helping my game kind of keep developing, being a good well-rounded player. The physical stuff will always kind of be part of my nature, but for now, I have to make sure that I’m staying on the ice." Wilson has a goal and three points in three games with seven penalty minutes.

Devante Smith-Pelly potted his third goal of the season in Friday's 3-2 OT win over Colorado.

Smith-Pelly got the Capitals on the board at the 8:55 mark of the second period to tie the game at 1-1. He ended a five-game scoreless skid in the process to give him five points in 19 matches this season.

Travis Boyd picked up two assists in Monday's 4-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers.

This was Boyd's first game of the season, after he missed the first 12 contests because of a lower-body injury. He picked up helpers on goals by Jakub Vrana and Devante Smith-Pelly. Even though he's off to a nice start, he won't be worth picking up in any fantasy format.

Niskanen blew a power-play goal right past Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky to tie the game at one at the 7:53 mark of the second frame. Nicklas Backstrom and Evgeny Kuznetsov picked up the assists on Washington's only goal. Niskanen finished the night with four shots on goal, two hits and two takeaways in a game-high 28:29. He was forced to play so much because the Capitals didn't have John Carlson in their lineup tonight. Niskanen now has three goals and five assists in 15 games this season.

Dmitry Orlov scored two goals and picked up an assist in Tuesday’s 5-2 win over the Minnesota Wild

Orlov started off his night with a beautiful snipe for his first goal of the season. The Russian blueliner then picked up a primary assist on Tom Wilson’s first of the season before Alex Ovechkin set him up with a great cross-ice feed for a one-timer to give the Capitals a 4-1 lead in the third period. The three-point night breaks a five-game pointless streak for Orlov. The Russian rearguard has just five points in 17 games this season.

He was among 17 roster cuts on Sunday. The other notable demotion was Connor Hobbs. Johansen and Hobbs were in the mix for spots on Washington's defense corps. The Capitals have 36 players left on their camp roster.

Braden Holtby (upper body) will be back in the lineup on Monday night, but he won't start against Montreal.

Coach Todd Reirden indicated that Holtby will start on Wednesday versus Chicago. He wants Holtby to get back into his regular routine before returning from an upper-body injury. He missed two games because of the ailment. Pheonix Copley will face Montreal on Monday night.

This will be Copley's fourth straight start, but Braden Holtby is expected to serve as the backup after recovering from an upper-body injury. Copley has won three of his four outings this month and he has allowed just two goals against in each appearance.

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